Pain is Your Brain’s Way of Saying STOP!

Nothing will stop you from doing the things you love quicker than pain. In fact, pain has been identified as the biggest obstacle to any behavior change. For example, no matter how much you want to start exercising, if your knee hurts with every step, you cannot and will not exercise.

In order to understand pain, you must know how the brain works. The brain is divided into two sections, the “old” brain located in the ‘back’ of the brain and the “new” brain, located in the front. The only thing “old” brain is concerned about is your safety. Is this movement safe? Is this situation a threat to my safety?

The old brain determines if something is safe through input data from billions of sensory receptors and prior experiences in similar situations. The old brain is only concerned about survival. If the old brain does not feel safe, the brain elicits an output; something that will stop you from current behavior so you remain safe and are not killed. Pain is a protective output of the brain to force a change for your safety.

Please understand that I am in no way diminishing any pain that you feel but rather, I hope to explain pain in such a way that gives you hope; a way out of the misery of dull aching and constant pain. Neuroplasticity proves that a person can “train” the input systems and train the interpretation of data to improve prediction and thus improve performance while reducing pain. The more safe your brain feels, the better your movement and the less your pain.

In a prior blog, I explained that the nervous system is a loop of input, interpretation/decision, and output. This constant feedback process determines how we move through life. Our sensory systems provide data about the environment and the brain (aka, cerebellum) monitors how the body is interacting within the environment. Based on input data and prior experiences, the brain initiates a motor response. The quality of the response is determined by the quality of the inputs, speed of interpretation and accuracy and timing of motor response.

If all systems say “safe”, movement is smooth, fluid and pain-free. If prior experiences in same situation were ‘safe’, movement will be strong. Conversely, if the brain does not feel safe, the brain’s output is going to be PAIN, nausea, poor movement, decreased strength or flexibility or even a loss of balance; anything to get you to stop what you’re doing.

How do you make your “old” brain feel safe? You practice drills that improve predictive capability. In other words, you practice the Brains and Balance class drills regularly with accuracy and coordination.

The pain theory is outdated. Listen to your body. Train your brain. Don’t fall down.

The better the input, the better the output!

The Fall Prevention Lady, aka, Your Neuro-Performance Coach!

Vision is most important input to brain

“Vision is a dynamic interactive process of motor and sensory function, mediated by the eyes for the purpose of simultaneous organization of posture, movement and spatial orientation, for manipulation of the environment and, to its highest degree, of perception and thought.” – Dr. William Padula

In Z-Health we study the brain and what the brain needs for optimal function. Movement is a dance between activation and inhibition of muscles. In order to move well, the brain needs activation. The entire brain needs activation.

Unfortuantely, the brain likes to conserve energy. Old paths are easier to follow than forging new ones; it takes less energy. Most humans I know are creatures of habit. We follow the same morning routines, its comfortable to stay in your zone versus expending energy to try something new. As such, many parts of the brain don’t get any activation on a regular basis.

The brain is a fascinating organ and as a Z-Health trainer, I am able to assess and identify weakness or dysfunctional patterns then implement specific drills to activate or inhibit parts of the brain that need some attention/fixing!

Vision is at the top of the neural hierarchy because we are vision-dependent when it comes to moving through life. The brain relies on the data from each eye to determine overall threat to survival. If the brain gets the message that it’s “NOT” safe; flight or fight hormones are produced, the brain is in protective mode and movement will be altered for survival.

If the input messages from the eyes are clear, reliable and the situation is deemed safe, movement is optimal. Strength and flexibility are in tact, stability and posture are strong. The key is learning how to train your vision so you can do it!

Vision training is absolutely essential if you want to improve balance and gain control of your mind and body. There are billions of neurons in the visual tract and because neurons that lie together fire together, activating the eyes has a cascade effect on your mind and body!

Activating eye muscles rubs off on surrounding neurons; neurons responsible for inhibiting pain. When you activate specific eye muscles with eye movements, you activate the neurons that STOP PAIN. Want less pain, move your eyes.

By exercising the eye muscles, you activate muscles in the posterior chain, aka your backside muscles. Eye drills can increase postural muscle tone; you will have the strength and subconscious awareness to correct your posture and stand up tall.

When you practice eye drills, you are improving the skill of your eye muscles. All skills improve with practice so if you follow precise training drills, you will have precise vision improvements. The key is working with a professional who can identify which muscles need activation and which ones need inhibition.

I am that professional. I can assess and identify visual dysfunction through assessment tests. As a Z-Health Performance professional, I will assign the drills your brain needs for improved vision, better movement and less pain.

I offer Skype sessions for individuals or partners. Contact me for details.

Kelly ON THE Z-TRAIN

New favorite: Salted Orange Juice

If you’re like me and have a sluggish thyroid, this article is for you. The thyroid produces hormones that give you energy; the hormones that set the speed of your metabolism, the hormones that give you a zest for life; a desire to live.

Ok, I’m being a little melodramatic but hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease runs in my family and at the age of 49, I’m starting to feel sluggish. My doctor isn’t concerned about my thyroid because the thyroid test results say I’m “within normal limits”. FOR WHO? I don’t have energy.

I’m high risk because of my genetics but also because I had radiation to my head and neck. If my test results were low, the doctor would write me a prescription for a pill designed to increase my “T4” levels. Unfortunately, my body cannot process “T4” without the other thyroid enzyme “T3”. LISTEN>>>>the pill the doctor gives me is ineffective. Worthless. And I still wouldn’t have energy.

That’s why people with hypothyroidism need to drink SALTED ORANGE JUICE. Why? Salted OJ increases active T3 levels. There are other MAJOR HEALTH BENEFITS of this Fructose, Potassium, Magnesium and Salt combination, including:

Increase conversion of T3 and T4 in the liver
Regulate blood sugars
Stop the stress response
Lower adrenaline and cortisol levels.

Use nonionized salt.

I’ve been drinking this combination first thing in the morning and last thing at night and I am significantly more calm and have more energy throughout the day. I’m hooked.

#saltedorangejuice #raypeat #ontheztrain #hypothyroidism #healthyliver

Drill to improve ability to see clearer…..

Vision is a skill and like all skills, it will improve with practice. In the gym, we train our movement patterns, we train balance ability but we do not train the muscles in our eyes! We have six muscles in each eye that follow the rule of all muscles; use it or lose it!

Vision is the most powerful sensory input to the brain and takes up the largest amount of brain real-estate. Optics rule. Vision is king sensory. Posture, movement, and pain are all directly influenced by vision. As in Immediately.

There are four components to healthy vision. Training the four different components of vision has an immediate impact on your nervous system; the benefits are instantaneous. As a Z-Health Movement Re-Educator and Movement Integration Specialist, I have been practicing vision drills on myself, my clients and my group classes and the results are astonishing. Less pain, greater range of motion, movement in joints that haven’t moved in YEARS!!! Best of all; better posture and balance!!!
It’s not magic; it’s neuroscience.

While sitting at my desk studying neurophysiology notes, Dr. Cobb’s YouTube message was talking about ‘visual resolution’, or the ability to see clearly. Which happens to be one of the first signs of tired eyes. Great, mine is horrible. My eyes are tired.
😫

Dr. Cobb went on to demonstrate a drill that trains your ‘visual resolution, aka, see more clearly. I want to improve mine, so I grabbed the letter ball I had from a previous Z-Health certification weekend and started to follow along.

This drill was highly threatening to me. I was nervous because I could not throw the ball consistently. My throws are spastic; all over the place! “Just toss the ball up in the air and watch one letter up and then back down” “see it land”. ,… yeah, on my face! LOL.

I’m a basketball player so I instinctively spin the ball. Fast. LOL I couldn’t see anything but a blur until I slowed it down! I was better with my left hand, just like in basketball. I’ve learned that there are drills that will equal out the consistency of my throws.

Laughing when it hit me in the chest, I followed Doc’s advice and toned the drill down a bit by holding the ball and moving in toward my nose then out to arm’s length. 5 times each hand. Turn to see different letters.

I know this drill works with me because I immediately did a Z-Health assessment and compared pre-post assessments. Results, bam!

Train your eyes. Improve your vision.

I invite anyone who is serious about taking their wellness to the next level. This brain-based approach to better performance in life is only for those who are committed to change. Open mind. Consistent effort. Huge results.

New program: “3 Pillars Strong; Move well. Balance well. See well”.

I will be hosting two mixers in September to present the program, answer any questions and take registrants for the two October classes in Fair Oaks, CA.

Stay tuned for days and times.
“On the Z-Train”